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Volume XLVII, No. 9Venice - Santa Monica Free Methodist Church
Pastor Jim MiyabeSincerely,
Seab
reez
eVol XLVII, No. 9
SEPTEMBER2012
Yesterday, September 1, our daughter, Aimee and her husband, Blane, had their first baby!!!! Cole James Snyder was born about 4:30 pm. He weighed in at 7 lbs. 1 oz., and was 20 ½ inches tall. He is a handsome baby, looks like his father.
He is Suzanne and my first grandchild as well the first Snyder grandchild. We are celebrat-ing and thanking God for bringing them through the birth process and for the miracle of new life.
Jesus used the birth process to describe what a person needs to do in order to find faith in God. Jesus said that a person has to be “born again”. One who was listening was very puzzled at His analogy and wondered aloud, and probably sarcastically, if it were possible for a person to re-enter the womb in order to be “born again”. (John 3:3-8)
But Jesus was not saying that we need to physically reenter the womb. Rather He was teaching that a new faith, a new birth in Christ, is like starting life all over again. Instead of living in sin and darkness, we can have a new life. The new life is characterized by a cleanness, a freshness and a new hope and vision for life.
As I gazed upon little Cole James, I marveled at the miracle of new life. In a similar manner, Jesus’ teaching about new life means that we all can have a fresh new
start. We can be innocent and pure filled with new hope and promise. Would you like to experience new life? Give your heart to Jesus and accept Him into your
life and you can be “born again”.
NEW LIFEYouth baptized on August 12th and their families.
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News Briefs
Congratulations to Blane and Ai-mee Snyder on the birth of their son Cole James (7lbs, 1oz., 20 1/2 in.) on September 1! God's bless-ings to the Snyder family. Congratulations, also, to Pastor Hisashi and Hosana Ishitobi on the birth of their son, Zio Claude on September 2. May God's blessings be on the whole family!
Dearest congratulations to Karl Shimamura & Kathy Kumagai who were united in Holy Matri-mony on July 28 in Hawaii. May God bless you richly as you begin married life!
Thanks to Pastor Katsuya Omine who spoke in our worship services on August 12.
Senior adults participated in the Conf. Vespers Service on August 12. The afternoon service was fol-lowed by a delicious meal.
Congratulations to those who were baptized at the beach on August 12. We are celebrating with Max Akita, Rebekah Baker, Sydney Hongo, Kyle Koshimizu, Kathy Sakamoto, Kevin Sakamoto, Kat-suya Shiratori, Ryo Shiratori, Kurt Weber and Jennifer Yee.
Arts & Crafts Fellowship has started up as of August 15. All are invited to attend at 12:30 p.m. each Wednesday.
Christine Harada is planning to minister in Japan with Cru (aka: Campus Crusade for Christ) for one year. Please pray for her. If you would like to be part of her support team contact the church office.
Congratulations to Pastor Hisashi Ishitobi who became a naturalized U.S. Citizen on August 23.
Sunday School Teachers and Aides were dedicated in our worship services on August 26. Please pray for:(Infant/Toddler House): Jane Honda, Kiku Ige, Emiko Kuwata, Naomi Tong, Massumi Yama-moto (Subs): Van Doan, Downa Takeshima; (Preschool–5th Grade): Max Chee, Sandra Chin, John Gaines, Marlene Gaines, Audrey Hodges, MariAnna Hashimoto, Glenn Hatanaka, Teresa Hatanaka, Ken Koshimizu, Gayle Miya, Denise Pike, Darryl Shi-mazu; (6th–12th Grade): Linda Akutagawa, Shin Furukawa, Courtney Hongo, Grace Mendoza, Patrick Mendoza, Noah Rubke, Aimee Snyder, Blane Snyder, Melissa Tong, Jeremy Tuggy; (College): Ryan Granucci, (Adult): Randy Evans, Ben Hoy, Jim Miy-abe. “Alive” a PCJ FM conference minis-try for Japanese speaking youth and young adults was launched on August 26. It will meet monthly at the Anaheim FMC. See Pastor Hisashi Ishitobi for info.
Welcome back to Robert Sugai who returned safely after a tour of duty in Afghanistan!
Our best to Youth Director, Aimee Snyder, who is on maternity leave as of August 27. Thanks to Linda Akutagawa and Patrick Mendoza who took on more paid hours to continue the leadership of youth ministries. Thanks to Barb Cas-tleman, Hisashi Ishitobi, Chris Ishida and Steve Tuggy who de-veloped our Maternity Leave policy and arranged for leadership in our youth program during Aimee’s leave.
Youth Ministries hosted a Kick-Off Carnival to open the new sea-son on Sept. 1. It was a BLAST with lots of fun, food and friends. Thanks to all who helped and es-pecially to those who sat in the Dunk Tank!
Sandra Chin and Terri Sayama were commissioned on September 2 to serve on the PCJC ZOE team to Thailand. The ministry dates are September 4 -15. Team members also include— Kathi Loesser, Isaac Wang, Les, Jordan, Brandon & Cameron Yee (Penn. FMC); Brandon Gee & Philip Sakanashi (Mission Valley FMC); Kevin Wong (Westlight FMC).
Thanks to everyone who donated glue sticks for the ZOE team. They will be used to reach out to chil-dren.
SHORT-TERM MISSIONS: Please pray for those who are serving on short-term missions: Sara Fong is serving on staff of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at U.C. Ber-
News Briefs
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keley; Rob, Denise, Kelly, Stepha-nie & Cori Anne Tang are serving in Thailand with ZOE Ministries; Sandra Chin & Terri Sayama to Thailand (9/4-15) with the Confer-ence ZOE Ministry team.
MILITARY PERSONNEL: Prayer is requested for a member of the military: Geoffrey West (Afghani-stan).
THIS MONTH
CHURCH FELLOWSHIP LUNCHEON: September 2Our monthly Fellowship Lunch is a great place to meet new people, deepen relationships and have great food. All are welcome to at-tend. 11:30 a.m.
MEN’S RETREAT: September 7–9Venice men will be meeting for a weekend retreat with speakers Dr. Isaac Canales and his two sons, Coba & Josh. The theme, “The Struggle” is from Romans 15:30, “I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.”
BAPTISM CLASS: September 9Have you celebrated your conver-sion to Jesus Christ in public bap-tism yet? The Bible tells us to do so, “…Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…” (Acts 2:38) Pastor Jim will teach this class at 11:30 a.m. Please sign up in the narthex or call the church office.
COLLEGE FELLOWSHIP/BIBLE STUDY: September 9 & 16All college age persons are invited to attend this twice monthly fel-lowship at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Contact Ryan Granucci for information.
AWANA MINISTRY TO START: September 14This ministry for children com-bines games, Biblical training & more to develop a strong faith in Jesus. AWANA (Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed) meets on Friday nights from 7:00 p.m.–8:30 p.m.
Contact the church office to regis-ter your child.
YOUTH FELLOWSHIP: Sept. 15This is the first of the twice monthly fellowship events on the first & third Saturdays of each month. (7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.) All middle & high school youth are welcome to attend. Youth minis-tries also has classes on Sunday mornings, weekly DIG groups that meet on Wednesday evenings and service opportunities throughout the year. See schedule on venicechurch.org.
CONF. SENIORS TO MEET, “YOU & I”: September 22Mission Valley FMC is the host for popular COSAM sponsored event at 10 a.m. Come and learn how seniors can have fun and support each other. Pastor Pat Omaye is the guest speaker and will share on “Tsukemono and Rice”. All seniors are encouraged to attend. Lunch is provided. Please sign up in the narthex (or call the church office) for attendance and carpool.
BAPTISM: September 30A service of immersion baptism will be held to celebrate lives given over to Jesus Christ. Kevin & Lori Matsunaga are hosts for this won-derful event at 3:00 p.m. Contact one of the pastors if you are ready for baptism.
ANNOUNCEMENTS SUNDAY MORNING SCHEDULE Our two English Worship Services start at 8:45 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. The Japanese language Worship Service starts at 11:30 a.m. Eng-lish language Sunday school is held at 8:45 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. Japanese language Sunday school and the English language high school class starts at 11:30 a.m. Call the church office for more specific information on youth and children’s schedule. CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL MINISTRYWe minister at two convalescent hospitals on the west side: Cul-ver West & Santa Monica. Like to
participate? Contact Wayne Gi-noza at 310-963-4681 or [email protected]. to participate.
MacARTHUR PARK (MP) MINISTRY: September 23Once a month we help with a wor-ship service & distribute food at MP. Can’t go to MP but would like to help? Be at church at 2 p.m. to help pack lunches. Contact Tom Granucci at 310/327-8894 or [email protected]
MISS A WORSHIP SERVICE?Did you miss a worship service be-cause you were ill or out of town? You can hear the messages from our website venicechurch.org! You can also access this newsletter (the “Seabreeze”) at our website and much, much more! (Please let Mi-chelle Stultz in the church office know if you access the Seabreeze off the web and don’t need one mailed to your home. Thank you.)
IN SYMPATHY
Our condolences to Kay (Lloyd) Fu-kuda and family on the passing of her father, Mr. Clarence Niizawa, on August 3. May God’s comfort be with the entire Niizawa family.
Our condolences on the passing of Rev. Takeo Matsudaira, Japanese language minister at the Anaheim FMC, on August 18. May God’s comfort be with the Matsudaira family.
Our condolences to Dave (Kathy Tsutsui) Fong and family on the passing of his mother, Mrs. Lai Heung Fong, in San Francisco on August 23. May God be close to the entire Fong family.
MEMORIAL OFFERINGS
Mrs. Bettie Ariyasu - "Thank you Ashley, Matthew and Grandma Ari-yasu"Mrs. Yoko Miya - "Birthday Offering"Mr. & Mrs. Wataru Shiratori - "Thank You"
♱
In Sympathy
Announcements
MEMORIAL OFFERINGS
THIS MONTH
SeabreezeVENICE - SANTA MONICA FREE METHODIST CHURCH 4871 CENTINELA AVENUELOS ANGELES, CA 90066
TEMP - RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
STAFF E-MAIL ADDRESSES & PHONE NUMBERS:Pastor Jim Miyabe [email protected] (310/822-8094)
Pastor Gen Hashimoto (Japanese Language) [email protected] (310/822-8094)
Pastor Hisashi [email protected] (310/821-7716)
Audrey Hodges (Children’s Ministry Director) [email protected] (310/821-6286)
Jodi Yokota (Bookkeeper)[email protected] (310/822-8094)
Ken Koshimizu (CM Assistant Director) [email protected] (310/822-8094)
Emiko Kuwata (Infant/Toddler Lead)[email protected] (310/418-7791)
Patrick Mendoza (Youth Worker)[email protected] (310/821-6286)
Aimee Snyder (Youth Director) [email protected] (310/821-6286)
Michelle Stultz (Office Administrator) [email protected] (310/822-8094)
Venice-Santa Monica Free Methodist Church
Main Office: 310-822-8094 email: [email protected]: 310-821-5474 http://www.venicechurch.org
NONPROFITU.S. POSTAGE
PAIDVENICE, CA
PERMIT NO. 214
CHECK OUT OUR CHURCH WESITE:
We’ve got a new online location at:
http://www.venicechurch.org It has our news and events! This newsletter, “Seabreeze,” is also here. Let us know if you receive the Seabreeze off the web and
don’t need one mailed to your home. Also, Pastor Jim’s sermons are available there via Podcast or through its media player. Venice Youth (6th-12th grade ministry) has a new e-mail address! [email protected]
